House GOP: Bipartisan action needed to protect kids in DCFS system

on
Thursday, December 11, 2014

CHICAGO
– House Republicans today praised the scheduling of a hearing of the Human
Services Committee for Wednesday, January 7 to receive testimony regarding
documented abuse at DCFS Residential Facilities throughout the state. The
hearing comes in response to a series of disturbing reports exposing cases of
physical and sexual abuse of children in state custody; including exposure to
drugs, acts of violence and forced prostitution.

Deputy
House Minority Leader Patti Bellock (R-Hinsdale), the Republican Spokesperson
on the Human Services Appropriations Committee, applauded legislative leaders
for scheduling the upcoming hearing and stressed the need for an immediate
response by DCFS officials.

"We
absolutely must do a better job of protecting every child in the DCFS system
and come up with remedies to prevent the exploitation and physical or sexual
abuse of these kids,” Bellock said. “The safety of children must be our
paramount priority. The current system is clearly failing too many kids and
putting thousands at risk. I join Governor-elect Rauner’s call for a bipartisan
response by the General Assembly to approve needed reforms with built-in
accountability.”

The
Human Services Committee hearing is scheduled to take place at 10:00am on
Wednesday, January 7 at the Michael A. Bilandic Building. The facilities in
question where documented abuse has occurred are contracted by the Illinois Department
of Children and Family Services to provide supervision and therapy for youth who
have suffered abuse and neglect or have serious behavioral and mental health
issues.

“Accounts
of the abuse that has gone unchecked in some Illinois youth facilities is an
absolute tragedy,” added Rep. Bellock. “These children are put in state care to
protect them from danger. One thing is clear: we need to make changes to ensure
these children are cared for and protected moving forward without delay.”